Today we are examining Isaiah 13 and 14, with a side trip to Daniel 4.
What would you think if one of our modern-day "big names" in Christianity stood up and said, "America, a North Korean man named Yo See Feng is going to conquer the American empire." If such a statement even got any "press", it would be quickly derided, ridiculed and basically "laughed out of town".
However, when you read Isaiah chapter 13, you see Isaiah prophesying that the Medes would conquer the Babylonians. Most scholars date the first few chapters of Isaiah to be around 700 B.C. Cyrus, the Mede, did indeed topple the Babylonian Empire, in 539 BC. Even though some scholars attempt to explain this away, Cyrus is mentioned by name in Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1. These chapters were written later in Isaiah's life, and he was the author.
An interesting aside here - - - you may have heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found in caves near the town of Qumran, in 1947. Of those scrolls, the largest of them is The Great Isaiah Scroll, which contains all 66 chapters of Isaiah, and is 1000 years older than the other copies from antiquity at the time of its discovery. Amazingly, it matched its more modern copies exactly. Our God is a great God!
Last night I was again studying the puzzle of Isaiah 14. Many modern Bible scholars believe this condemnation of a ruler to have a double application, one to that local time and another far in the future. In this specific case, chapter 14 is a taunt against the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar at that time. But, then, scholars go on to apply verses 12-20 or so to Satan. This passage is where the name "Lucifer" originates.
One of my scholar friends, David W. Lowe, has studied this topic extensively and has written a fascinating book called Deconstructing Lucifer. He maintains that Lucifer is not another name for Satan, because this passage is not about him. The prophet Isaiah was taunting the king of Babylon, who had all these lofty aspirations. Pagans of that day believed that when a king died, he became a star in the heavens, and Nebuchadnezzar believed he'd be as bright as the Daystar, Venus. David has studied the writings of the OT writers and the earliest church writers, and it was not until the 2nd century A.D. that writers began to apply this moniker to Satan. It's a great book. I hope you'll look into it. David has a website for the book, where you can learn more about it: deconstructinglucifer.com.
Back to Isaiah 14:
I have been guilty of this sin of pride and "control", at various times in my life and now know to be watchful for its "creep" into my heart on a daily basis. The "settin' downs" I have received as a result have not been pretty, not pretty at all. We so much want to "control" our own lives, to be our own god, don't we? When we do this, we are "setting our throne over the stars of God". And, it does not end well for us.
"We can make our plans...but the Lord determines our steps."
(Proverbs 16:9)
This very thing, as described in Isaiah 14, happened to Nebuchadnezzar. You can also read about it in Daniel chapter 4. God foretold it to him in a dream, which Daniel interpreted. Just 12 months later, the prophecy came true: Look at verses 28-33 of Daniel 4: (The Message)
"Just 12 months later, he was walking on the balcony of the royal palace in Babylon and boasted, 'Look at this, Babylon the Great! And I built it all by myself, a royal palace adequate to display my honor and glory!'
The words were no sooner out of his mouth than a voice out of heaven spoke,
'This is the verdict on you, King Nebuchadnezzar:
Your kingdom is taken from you. You will be driven out of human company and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. The sentence is for 7 seasons, enough time to learn that the High God rules human kingdoms and puts whomever He wishes in charge.'
It happened at once!
Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human company, ate grass like an ox,
and was soaked in heaven's dew. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle
and his nails like the claws of a hawk.
At the end of seven years, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked to heaven.
I was given my mind back and I blessed the High God, thanking and glorifying God, who lives forever:
'His sovereign rule lasts and lasts,
His kingdom never declines and falls.
{and then the last recorded words in scripture from King Neb:}
'Everything He does is right,
and He does it the right way.
He knows how to turn a proud person
into a humble man or woman.'
Well, how about that?! Daniel 4 and Isaiah 14. Stunning!
How much better to let God have the reins of our lives, to humble ourselves before Him and seek His face in all things! Nebuchadnezzar's rule ended, and he ended up in the grave, just like every other human ruler and indeed, every other human except for those still living. He was succeeded by Nabonius and his junior regent, Belshazzar, who was "large and in charge" in 539 BC, when the Medes conquered the Babylonian Empire.
It is easy for us to read about all this and pat ourselves on the back..."We're not like Nebuchadnezzar!" ....Right?
While it's true that not many of us have the power and influence in the world that Nebuchadnezzar had, we all have a throne in our hearts. It is wise for us to reflect at least daily as to whom we have set up on that throne. Is it Jesus? Is it someone else we love? Is it some thing that we love? Have we made a god of ourselves?
I urge you to pray this with me today, from Psalm 139:23-24 (The Amplified Bible):
"Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"
In Jesus' name, amen.
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